Telegraph Sport understands shocked team-mates were terrified Kante had suffered a heart problem when he momentarily passed out in front of them after training last Friday – just two days before Chelsea were due to face City.

Even though Kante was not found to have any heart issue and travelled with the rest of the squad to the Etihad, the scare was brought into sharp focus, as head coach Antonio Conte, his staff and the Chelsea players then learned of the tragic death of Davide Astori on the morning of the City game.

A Chelsea doctor arrived on the scene within seconds after Kante slumped to one side in the dressing room at the club’s Cobham training ground after Friday’s session.

Kante was immediately screened for heart issues but was given the all-clearCredit:
CHELSEA FC

Having regained consciousness and been attended to on site, Kante was sent to a specialist for a series of cardiology tests, which, fortunately, all came back clear.

Having found no heart problems or other issues, the specialist report cleared Kante to play for Chelsea against City but the 26-year-old felt unwell on Sunday morning and it was decided to take no risks. No specific reason was given by the specialist as to why Kante would have fainted, but it has been suggested that last week’s freezing temperatures may have been a contributing factor.

Having sat out the City game, Kante was back in at Cobham on Monday and completed a training session without suffering any problems. Barring any fresh injury, he is expected to be available for Saturday’s Premier League game against Crystal Palace and next week’s Champions League last-16 clash against Barcelona.

Kante’s energetic style has earned him the reputation of being one of the fittest players in Europe, with Claudio Ranieri describing the France international as being Leicester City’s “battery” in their Premier League title success.

He won the FWA and PFA Player of the Year awards last season for his role in helping Chelsea lift the title, and has made 38 appearances for club and country so far this season.

Kante has developed a reputation for boundless midfield energy since arriving in the Premier League in 2015Credit:
REUTERS

Having dealt with the scare over Kante and drafted Danny Drinkwater into his team, Conte was informed on the morning of the City game that Fiorentina captain Astori, who played for him with Italy, had died of a suspected cardiac arrest.

It made for an uncomfortable and upsetting 48 hours for Conte, who wore a black armband in memory of Astori during the City defeat and admitted news of the Italian had hit him hard.

Most of Conte’s backroom staff knew Astori well, having also worked with the Italian national team, while Chelsea players Marcos Alonso and Davide Zappacosta were team-mates of the defender at Fiorentina and with the Italy.

Alonso posted a picture of himself with Astori during his Fiorentina days on Twitter with the message ‘my deepest condolences with Davide’s family and all the viola family. Rip amigo’.

Zappacosta also put a picture of Astori on Twitter with a message that read: “No word (sic), just immense pain’.

Gianluigi Buffon, who is due to face Tottenham Hotspur with Juventus in the Champions League at Wembley on Wednesday night, became the latest team-mate of Astori to release a tribute.

Astori passed away at the age of just 31 Credit:
GETTY IMAGES

“Ciao dear Asto,” Buffon wrote in Italian on social media before going on to say that he rarely talks publicly about others, but was making an exception “because you have a young wife and family who are suffering, but above all your little daughter, deserves to know that her father was in every way a good person, a truly good person.”

The goalkeeper added: “You were the best expression of an old-fashioned world. One that people have left behind, and which was governed by values like altruism, elegance, politeness and respect toward others. Genuine compliments, you were one of the best sporting figures I ever came up against.”

Astori was discovered in his hotel room in Udine by club staff, on the morning Fiorentina were due to face Udinese in Serie A. His body was taken to the Santa Maria della Misericordia Hospital for an autopsy. “The belief is that the player died of a cardiac arrest by natural causes,” said Udine prosecutor Antonio De Nicolo. “It is strange that such a thing should happen to a professional who is so closely monitored without there being any warning signs.”

Former Newcastle United midfielder Cheick Tiote last year died of a heart attack, aged 30. He collapsed during a training session with the Chinese League One side Beijing Enterprises.